Led by the HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, the MORES project (Moral Emotions in Politics: How They Unite, How They Divide) was launched as a collaboration between nine European institutions. The project examines the challenges facing liberal democracy, with a particular focus on the political role of moral emotions and values.
Understanding political emotions is crucial for analysing social cohesion and division. Launched in January 2024, the MORES project explores how moral emotions—such as anger, shame, and pride—shape political identities and social cohesion. The HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences leads this three-year research initiative in collaboration with nine European institutions.
The MORES project has three key objectives: (1) generating scientific evidence on the impact of moral emotions on political identities, (2) supporting policymakers in understanding and addressing emotional dynamics, and (3) providing free, innovative tools for civil society to safeguard democratic values.
According to Zsolt Boda, the project's principal investigator, the initiative's core objective is to equip individuals and institutions with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand political emotions, thereby fostering more constructive political discourse. The long-term significance of MORES lies in its potential to mitigate political polarisation and reinforce democratic values. Its findings will not only benefit the academic community but also provide policymakers and civil society organisations with valuable resources to strengthen democratic engagement across Europe.
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